The forging of a nation is not simply the sketching of new lines on a map, it is the binding together of present and countless future generations in a commitment to a shared destiny. There can be no more special day in a nation’s history than the coming of its independence - and today we congratulate all the people of Papua New Guinea on fifty years of their independence.
We celebrate this milestone, and look forward to the story of Papua New Guinea that its people will tell for the coming decades ahead.
Like Australia, Papua New Guinea’s path to independence was not a straightforward one - having to build a path from colonial control to true national self-determination. Today we remember and celebrate all those Papua New Guineans, and their supporters around the world, who helped make independence a reality in 1975.
Australia and Papua New Guinea cannot ignore the bonds of geography, history, and democracy that have brought our two peoples together - and that will ensure each other's future security and prosperity is tied together.
Independence means a partnership of two equals sharing mutual respect. The new treaty being finalised by Papua New Guinea and Australia will bring a transformation of our mutual partnership - providing the basis of deeper ties for the next fifty years.
Papua New Guineans have fought with Australians in the darkest moments of our history and they have made vital contributions to Australian society since. So too have many Australians through the years dedicated their careers to Papua New Guinea, falling in love with its people and culture.
To all Papua New Guineans today we extend our congratulations and friendship and we honour the generations past who helped bring your free nation to this historic moment.